Oneonta: NYSEG Releases Daily Storm Restoration Work Plan - 7am

Crews working to address remaining outages, many of which are located off-road in difficult terrain

BINGHAMTON, NY — April 22, 2022, 7:00 a.m. — New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) has released its work plan for Friday and expects to restore service to 95% of the affected customers by 11:30 PM today, with the exception of any customers in inaccessible areas or with damage to customer-owned equipment who will be restored through the weekend. Currently, approximately 9,100 customers are without power in the company’s Oneonta division which includes Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Greene, Herkimer, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Otsego, Schoharie and Ulster counties

Details of Friday’s Work Plan Include

Resource and Crewing Information: The company has more than 2,800 field resources engaged in restoration efforts across the state and continues to add additional resources, including specialized equipment that allows for better access to circuits located in off-road areas.

Operational Expectations: At this stage in restoration many repairs are in difficult to reach off-road locations where crews and equipment must be brought in on foot. This is further hampered by damp terrain. Extensive damage still exists along the heavily impacted I-88 corridor. Crews will continue working as quickly and safely as possible to restore all customers.

As crews work to make repairs, it’s possible that some customers that have already been restored may experience scattered outages that are necessary to complete additional work. For the safety of the crews and customers, NYSEG reminds customers to maintain a safe distance from work zones and do not approach crews.

Tuesday’s storm caused severe damage to the company’s electrical system, causing more than 941 downed wires in the company’s Oneonta division, along with more than 97 broken poles.

The company urges customers to remain away from storm debris, as it may contain downed wires or other damaged equipment and this may be hidden by snow. All downed wires should be assumed as energized and be reported by calling NYSEG’s emergency line at 800.572.1131 or contacting 911.

Stay Informed

NYSEG will continue to provide updates throughout the event to the general public on the company’s website and social media channels (Facebook and Twitter). The company also offers customers the following reminders to stay safe during a power outage.

  • Use our new mobile app to report and check the status of outages. To download the application, customers should search “AVANGRID” in the Apple or Android app stores and select “NYSEG.” The application is free to download.
  • Sign up for Outage Alerts to receive updates automatically by phone, text, or email as the company updates the status of the restoration process in their area. Customers can sign up for outage alerts by visiting here for NYSEG .

Stay Away From Downed Wires

  • Stay at least 30 feet from a downed power line.
  • If a downed wire comes in contact with your vehicle, stay inside and wait for help. If you must get out because of fire or other danger, jump clear of the vehicle to avoid any contact with the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Land with your feet together and hop with feet together or shuffle away; don’t run or stride.
  • NYSEG customers should call 800.572.1131 to report downed power lines or other hazardous situations.

During a Power Interruption

  • Contact neighbors to see if their power is off. A loss of power may be the result of a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker.
  • To report a power interruption, contact NYSEG at 800.572.1131.
  • Keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible. Most food will last 24 hours if you minimize the opening of refrigerator and freezer doors.

Flooding Preparation and Safety Tips

  • If flooding of a home or business has already occurred or is about to occur, customers should contact us to have electricity and natural gas service turned off. Call NYSEG at 800.572.1131 to report electricity emergencies; for natural gas emergencies, call 800.572.1121. Customers should never attempt to turn off electric and natural gas service.
  • Stay out of flooded basements. Energized wiring or outlets below the water line may pose a hazard; natural gas service in a flooded basement may also pose a danger.
  • To have service restored once flood waters have receded, customers should contact NYSEG to discuss specific circumstances. A safety inspection by a certified inspector may be necessary before service can be restored. Additionally, the basement must be free of water and the equipment must be clean and free of debris. Customers and contractors should never attempt to turn on electric or gas service.

Power Restoration Priorities

The companies’ first priorities are to respond to reports of downed power lines to keep the public safe. NYSEG customers are asked to call 800.572.1131 to report downed wires. Once this vital public safety work is complete, the companies will:

  • Assess the damage to the electricity delivery system.
  • Develop a detailed restoration plan.
  • Make repairs as quickly as possible.

For additional information, including storm preparation tips, storm safety information, generator safety information, restoration priorities and emergency resources, visit Outage Central at NYSEG.com and the company's social media pages:

NYSEG is a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc. 

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About NYSEG: New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG) is a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc. Established in 1852, NYSEG operates approximately 35,000 miles of electric distribution lines and 4,500 miles of electric transmission lines across more than 40% of upstate New York. It also operates more than 8,150 miles of natural gas distribution pipelines and 20 miles of gas transmission pipelines. It serves approximately 894,000 electricity customers and 266,000 natural gas customers. For more information, visit nyseg.com.

About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $40 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 7,000 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital in 2021 and 2022 as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens. In 2022, AVANGRID ranked second within the utility sector for its commitment to the environment and the communities it serves. The company supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2022 for the fourth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. For more information, visit avangrid.com.


 
Media Contact:

Julio Saenz
julio.saenz@avangrid.com
585.629.7895

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